Drink-dispensing machine



June 2s, 1927;

J. H. MCLELLAN DRINK DISFENSING MCHINE mvtnon JAMES howm rFLlLumAfronnrxs June 28, 1927.

J. H. MGLELLMI DRINK DISPENSlNG MACHINE 4 sheets-sheet 5' AFiled July 6,1925v mvven-ron Mm.: nowmn n LcLL An AT'roRmzYa June 2851927 J. H.MCLELLAN DRINK DISPENSING MACHINE Filed July 6, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Uff@ L/ /NVEN TOR N N1. 45 CM n o N MMM w w H/M A .M JA

Patented June 28, 1927 y UNITED s'rATlISI PATENT.- OFFICE.

DBINX-DISPENSING MACHINE.

Ammann mamy e,

My invention relates to improvements in drink dispensing machines whichhas for 1ts particular objects the lling of acup and the delivery of thecup v1when filled, and for' the disposition ofA a further cup inposition for filling subsequent to the insertion ofa coin into a' slotinthe machine.

The invention consists essentially of a supply tank, a cup e and meansfor feeding the cups into il ing position, behind :a closable pa1r ofdoors and as each c up 1s lilled for opening the doors and thrusting thefilled cup into delivery position, as will be more fully described inthe following specification, in which :F 4

Fig. 1 is a side view of my invention.

Figure 1* is an enlarged view of the cup carrier actuating" clutch.

Fig`2 is a longitudinal section showing the valve operating cam and thedoor operating mechanism. j

Figure 2A is a sectional view of one of the dash pots.

Fig. 3 is 'a plan view taken below the cup cage and feed ring,

' Ff ...4 is a fragmentary'side view showing t e driving mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectionlookin'gA towards the delivery recess.

' Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section showing the cup carrier.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of the cup arm spreader.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section showing the feed valve operatingmechanism.

Figure 9 isa sideview of theinvention showingr the parts in the positionassumed during operation.

- Figure 410 is a transverse sectional view of the cup carrier mechanismtaken on the line 5-'5 of Figure 3. 1

. Figure 11 is an enlarged view of the cup carrier ring.

Figure 12 is a front view of the'cup delivery recess showing the filledcup just re leased by the cup carrier.

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken through the cup carrier ring showingthe manner in which the rim of the `lowermost cup is pressed downwardlytovrelease it fromjthe cnn next above it.

In the drawings like ycharacters of refer-l ence lindicate.corresponding parts in each figura. .m f

, The numerals 1 `and 2 indicate longitudif 'the machine so-the cups maybe carried 1925. semi no. 41,721.

nal trame members which are mounted u on a suitable base and areconnected toget er by transverse members 3 andv4. On the rear endof theframe members 1 and 2 a.V

supply tank 5 is carried which is in communication with a feed tank 6through a supply pipe 7 and a valve 8` having a deported upon thestandards is an annular ring 14 having an internal thread 14:A whichcorresponds with and runs parallel to the thread of the head 13. Thedistance between the inside of these threads is equal to the diameter ofthe rim of the cups used n y their rims upon the threads and must passcompletely around between the ring and the head before they arepermitted to fall into filling position. The cups which are nested incolumns are deposited in pockets 15 in a rotatable cage 15A mounted upona vertical shaft 16 which extends through the column 12 and is providedat its lower end with a mitre pinion 17 driven by a corresponding gear18 on the shaft 19. The nested cups which are usually of pressed andwaxed `paper are apt to stick together and as a means for disconnectingthe lowermost cup from the one immediately above it, the leaving end ofthe thread 14A of the annular ring 14 ,is sharply curved downwards as at20,

' and immediately abovethis downward curve is' an'enlargement 2()A onthe underside of the thread 14A forming a wedge which is adapted toenter between the rim of the lowermost cup and that ofthe cup next aboveit. to disrupt the adhesion' -caused by the nesting of the cups.

The thread of thehead 13 stops ata point` previousvto the leaving end 20of the thread l14A as at 21, so as lto'leave no support fon the cup rimadjacent the head when the cup is in position to fall, but I provide asegment 22 pivotally mounted upon the column 12 which is adapted to-liein substantial contact with the leaving end 21, of the thread to carrythe cup rim. This segment is heldby gravity in normal lowered positionas shown in Figure 1 by means of the push rod 23, the cranks 24 and 25and the arm 26 on the clutch collar 69.

tion 28 outwards to in dotted lines in Figure 1 and in full line inFigure 5). A cup when in position to be lled rests u on the inner end ofa cranked arm 32, whic when depressed by its weight holds the channelsection 23 in alignment with the channel 27 so that the coin isallowcdto ,fait into the normally contracted section 26 to close anelectric circuit by whichthe machine is operated, but if no cup isdelivered to the cranked arm 32 the counterwei ht 33 raises the innerend of the arm 32 an through a connecting rod 34, shown in dotted linesin Fi e 5, swings the secgcrharge the coin from the channel 27 into thechannel 31 whence it is returned into a suitable receiver accessible tothe rson who sought to use the machine. ?he two parte forming thesection 29 are each suitably connected' to wires with which the motor 35is in circuit. The numeral 36 indicates the main sha upon which is keyedadjacent the frame member 1, a driving crank 37, see Figure 4,

having an inverted T-shaped rocker 38 mounted at its outer end. One legof the rocker is provided with a dog 39 which is adapted to be held incontact with a ratchet wheel 40 by a. tension sprin 41 secured to theboss of the crank 37. e op site end of the rocker is pointed as at 42 isadapted to engage a notch 43 in a plate 44 mounted on a at spring 45secured to the crank, and the centre leg 46 of the rocker is adaptedtostrike the adjustable stud 47 of the lug 48 to disconnect the drive ofthe crankK 37 through the rocker 38 from the ratchet wheel 40 andreversely when striking the adjustable stud 49 of the lug 50 todisengage the pointed end 42 of the. rocker from the plate 44 toreinstate the driving connection.

The ratchet wheel 40 is freely rotatable u on the shaft and is attachedto a worm w eel 51 which is driven by a worm 52 on the motor shaft 53.Therefore each o ration of the motor will rock the sha 36 throu h an arcrescribed between the studs 49 an 47 and providing a weight arm 54 upontheV shed when such movement is com leted the dog 39 will lift, allowingthe sha -to rock hack to its starting position as shown. As the dog 39is lifted the pointed end 42 of the rocker is brought into engage. mentwith the notch 43 in which it is held until the centre leg 46 is broughtinto contact with the stud 49 which action frees the rocker 38 andallows it to return to engaging position with the ratchet wheel 40.Adjacent the opposite endvof the main shaft 36 is a crank 55, its outerend being operated by a tension spring 56 shown partly in dotted'line inFigure l, which serves to accelerate the rocking of the shaft back toits normal position.I

The numeral 57 indicates a crank having at its outer end a crank pin58'and atv a point closer to the main shaft 36 a boss 59V through. whicha sliding connecting rod60 has movement. This connectingid is providedwith a stop collar 61 to'prevent its movement through the boss 59 in aforward direction beyond a predetermined point and at the outer end ofthe rod a pin 62 is provided from which a tension spring 63 extends tothe boss 59 of the crank 57.' The opposite end of the connecting rod iscoup ed to an outwardly spring pressed plunger 64 of a dash pot 65 ofany suitable type which is adjusted to accomplish the outward movementof its plunger in a predetermined period and to make its inward movementquickly. In this case there is suicient time to allow a cup to be iledthrough the valve spout 9. The operation of said valve will behereinafter described. -Y

The numeral 66 indicates a substantially horizontal crank extendingforward from the main shaft 36 and having a pin 67 at its outer endwhich when the crank descends on the forward movement of the main shaft,thrusts back the arm 68 fulcrumed to the base of the frame member 2 andlatches temporarily thereon as at 69. The numeral 70 indicates a driveclutch disc of any suitable type havingas many points of engagement asthere are columns of cups in the cage and which is mounted on the shaft19 to drive the cu cage 15A thro h the mitre pinionsl 'clutch ring is acrank 72 which in turn is coupled by a connecting rod 73 to the pin 58of the crank 57- so that the forward movement of the main shaft and thecrank 57 through these connecting parts imparts rotation to the cup cage154L to carrv another column of nested cups over the filling positionand to release the lowermost cup from the onenext above. The pin 26projecting filling position.

' Ivalvel`8v consists'of a cylindrical casing 1112-1 enlargement 20A isthen free to drop into The numeral indicates a tension spring throughwhich the forward movement is im: parted through a crank 76 to a shaft77. This movement is delayed until the plunger 64 is fully returned intothe dash pot 65y when the pin 62 at the end of the connecting rod 60comes into engagement with the lever 78 on the stub sha-ftA 79 andwithdraws the stop 80 from the end 0f a further crank.v 81 on the shaft77. A crank 82 on the shaft 77 is coupled by a rod 83 having a slidingmovement through the bentl over outer en d of the arm 68 and having anadjustable nut 84 at its outer end, serves to release the pin 67 of the'arm- 66 to permit the mainshaft 36 .to return to normal position.

The numeral 85 indicates a crank extending rearwardly of the frame fromthe main shaft 36 and having a' roller 86 at its outer end which isadapted to be resiliently engaged by a substantially triangular shapedcam 87 secured upon the shaft 77 so that, as the crank 85 is raised, theshaft 77 is per-. mitted to be rocked by the spring 75 in a .forwarddirection, and as it descends,l is

rocked in' an opposite direction. The numeral 88 indicates a dash potwhich through its connecting rod 89 and a crank 90 is adapted to permitaA quick forward and a 'slow` return rocking movement to the shaft 77.

The numeral 91 indicates a crank upon the shaft 71 which through a shortconnecting rod 92 imparts a reciprocating movement to the plunger 93 ofthe vcup delivery mechanism which will be dealt with later. Upon theinner end of the stubl shaft 79 a crank 94, see Figures 1 and 3, ismounted, which actuates a push rod 95 which is vadapted to bearv duringthe latter part of its stroke, upon a crankA 96 mounted upon ahorizontal shaft 97 to withdraw a pair of locking dogs 98 fromcorresponding recesses in the doors 99 at the rear of thedelivery recess100. A connecting` rod 101 couples the outer end of the crank .94 to ashort crank 102 secured toa short shaft 103 and journalled upon the topof the frame member 2, which shaft ca-rries an arm 105 which is adaptedwhen actuated to depress the outer end of the valveplunger push rod 107,see Figure -8.

-Journalled above the transverse member is a. bell crank 106 having arockingly mounted push rod 1.07 connected tothe upperl end of itsTvertical*L leg 108. The `lnriaontal leg 109 ofthe bell crank 106 isadapted to bearv upon' a `sliding pin 110 extending through the member3, which pin `is actuated byemj ..111 .secured t0' the Shaft 36' Theinto which the supply. pipe 7 leads adjacent one end. A .port 113 (shownin dotted ligner in Figure 3) communicateswith the feed tank 6 and anoutlet port 114 adjacent the opposite end communicates with the spout 9.

' The numeral 115 indicates a piston having a piston rod 116, the end ofwhich isnormally engagedby one end of the push rod feed tank and theport 114 to the spout 9,

by a spring 117, so that as Vthe cam 111- raises the pin and through thebell crank 106 and push -rod 107 drives the piston rod 116 inwards, thepiston 115'is disposed between the port 113 to the feed tank andJ thesupply pipe 7, so as to permit the liquid pipe 118. The spout 9 ispivotally connected to the valve 8 and is normally offset from thedelivery position shown in dotted line' in Figure 3. A pushv lrodconnection 119A extends between the spout and the vertical leg 108 ofthe bell crank 106 for the purpose of swinging the spout into deliverypositionl over the cup' as the' piston 115 is moved to permit the'liquid to flow; therethrough..

The cup delivery mechanism generally indicated bythe numeral 120 isattached to the forward-end of the plunger ,93 whlch is car.

'ried in a slide block 121 on the transverse member' 3, which alsocarriesa pair of inclined rails 122 the purpose of .which will appearlater. end of thev plunger 93 is a cylinder 123 in which is tted ahollow plunger 124 having opposed vertical slots 125 in its side wallsCarriedv upon fthe forward and an aperture 126 which is adaptedtoregister normally with the core 127 o-f lthe plunger 93.y A pin 128 iscarried in the side walls .of the cylinder 123 and extends 129 extendsthrough the plunger' transversely adjacentits upper end, the ends `ofwhich are adapted'to ride up the vrinclined rguides and to .withdraw theplunger 124 to its elevated position on the completion of the returnstroke of the plunger 93.

Extending between the pin 128 and the poseof drawing the 'plunger124downwards end "off'whi'cli is adaptedv to-cbe thrust -in'to 120 Ipin129 is a. tension Yspring130 for'the pur'- in elevated position'during'the greatergpart -1 70 107.. The piston is pressed outwards tonor` l mal positionbetween the port 113-from the- 110 throughthe slots125 which form a'guide and also. a stop to limit the vertical move--ment of the plunger 124. A further`p1n slide block 121 at thecompletion of -theforward stroke above mentioned to release the plunger124 and allow it' to descend. Mounted upon the upper end of the plunger124 is a pair of cup arms 133 which are carried upon a pivot pin 134.The cup arms are provided rearwardly of the pin 134 with tongues 135which are engaged in a pair of slots 136 converging downward which areformed in a vertical plate 137 carried upon the forward end of theplunger 93. It @vill therefore be seen. that the plunger 124 on beingreleased, acting in conjunction with the tongues 135 in the slots 136,willcause the cup arms 133 lto spread apart to release the cup and toenable the armsand the cup delivery mechanism to be withdrawn from thedelivery recess 100, leaving the filled cup standing therein.

rlfhe doors 99. are both hinged upon a bolt 138 andare each providedwith an outstanding lug 139 adjacent the hinging point. rlChe numeral140 indicates a short crank upon the main shaft 36 having a-.pivotallymounted eyed boss or pin 141 at'its outer end, through which one end ofa spring tensioned push rod 142 extends, the opposite endl of the pushro'd being'connected to a crank 143 on a shaft 144, which shaft isprovided with a pair of arms 145 which are adapted to engage the lugs139 of the doors 99 so that, as the forward movement ofthe shaft 36takes place, the weight of the doors depresses the arms 145 andpushesthe rod 142 v in an upwardly inclined direction and similarly as theshaft 36 is restored vto normal position and the other functionsrelative to the delivery of the filled cups are completed and also thecup operating mechanism returned to its starting position, the doors areclosed by the upward movement of the arms 145 land locked by the lockingdogs 98 'falling back into place. Simultaneously with these movementsthe lowermost cup above the cup arms 133 is permitted to fall intoposition between the arms and upon .the cranked arm 32'to put the coinchannel section 28 in alignment with the channel 27v so 'thata furthercoin may e dropped to again closev the 'mo. tor circuit. l

The entire mechanism hereinbefor'e', describedis obviously enclosed in acasing (not shown) through which access is obtainable to the supply tankand coin receptacle, an'd is provided with suitable accessjto the coinreceiving -and return channels.-

Having thus described the several parts of my invention and thefunctions of the various movement I' will now describe the(zo-ordination of those movements.

On the moto being started through closingv offthe, electric-circuit bythe coin dropped into the channel 27, rotation is impartedto theratchetwheelq 40 and shaft 36 in -afcloekwise direction (viewing the nia-Achine from'the side shownin Figures 1 and 9) until the rocker 38 isreleased therefrom. During this movement the crank 57 on the shaft 36through the clutch disc 70 and the mitre pinions 18 and 17 rotates thecup carrier 15 one quarter vof a revolution and disposes another columnof cups over the cup arms 133 over thecranked arm 32. The lip of thelowermost cup of this column is 'de- Y tached from the one next above itby the turned lipv 20 of the thread 14A, the cup being prevented fromfalling by the opposite side of the lip being supported on the segment22. It is desired to point out that on accountof the cups being-'formedto a similar taper and nested together, the lowermost cup of a columnmay be held in place by being supported at one side of the rim only.Simultaneous with the clockwise movement of the shaft 36 .the spout 9 iscarried by Since the dog 39 on the overcome without affecting theoperation l' ofthe shaft 36. The shaft 36 through-its crank 66 is heldby the arm 68 against return until the plunger 60 has completed itsinward stroke in the dash pot 65. The crank 85 is raised out of contactwith the cam- 87 so that it is free to rotate'under the influence of thespring 75 and against the resistance of the dash pot 88 as" soon asthe/stop 80I is lifted from the outer end of the crank 81. Whensufficient time has elapsed for the filling of the eup, `the springt'ensioned thrust of the rod 60 by the crank 57 has driven theplunger 64into the dash pot 65 allowing the pin 62 to move the arm 78 and the stubshaft 79 in a` clockwise' direction. The shaft 79 during this movementswings in a likev man# i ner, the crank 78,A which: through theconnecting rod 101 and its train of parts, re-

leases the valve plunger 116 allowing it to (resume its normal positionto shut-.off theV ow to the cup an'd to o en communication from the tank5 to the eed tank 6 'for refilling.

The same movement of the crank` 7 8 through the push rod 95 releases thelock.-

- ing dogs-598g@vthat, as"the rod 142 hasbeen release v"fr'oinjzthe`downward v pressure of the h crank aath weight of the-,arms 145 has t e'caused ,-then'ia-t'og drop,A thereby allowing the doors; '99 .to fallopen v.to the position shown A in dotted-lines in Figure 5. Alsfthe arml78- is carried to its ultimateffclockwise. position the tension lofIthe spring? 75 impaitsclockposition by the falling ofthe weightedl arm`54:. As the crank 81 is released the crank 82 withdraws thearm 6 8 fromthe pin 67 of the crank 66 freeing the shaft'36 for-return oranticlockwise movement under the influence of the weighted lever54 andthe spring 56 at the pro er time. 'The rotation anticlockwise of the saft 7 7 which is effected by the spring 75 raises the cam 87 so that thearm'85 may lnot fall before its appointed time, thus checking the returnmovement of the shaft '36. This movement also thrusts the cup delivemechanism forward-and carrying the fille cu between the doors 99 when itis 'de osite' in the delivery recess and released.

ubsequent to the above movement the inuence of the weighted arm' 54 inrotating the shaft 36 causes the roller 86 of thescrank 85 to bear uponthe cam 87 to drive' i-t and vthe shaft 77 in an anticloclrwisedirection against the resistance of the dash pot 88,si' multaneouslywithdrawing the cup delivery mechanism from the delivery recess. When,

the cup arms 133 are clear of the doors 39 pressure is applied by thecrank 140 of the shaft 36 onto the rod 142 to close the doors. Duringthe final return movement of the shaft 36 ythe pin 26 on the clutchcollar en gages the crank 25 of the .cu dropping mechanism to permit acup to all into po.- sit'ion for illin The inal return movement. of thesha t 77 permits the latch -arm 68 to assume its normal position anddisposes the crank 81 into such a position as will allow the sha-ft 79torotate and return the cranks 78 and 94 to .starting position. Thereturn. of the crank 94 withdraws the push rod 95 and allows the latch98 to fall into engagement to lock the doors of the delivily recess.

at I claim as my invention is:

l. A drink dispensing machine comprising a motive power adapted to beset in moother cup adjacent 'liquid valve after de,-

livery.

2. drink dispensin machine comprising a casing having a cuelivery'recess, a ca in which columns o cups Vareadapted to carried, aliquid valve, means for su porting a cu adacent thereto, means for.ischarging iqui into the cup from the valve, means for delivering thecup into the recess, and means as the cup is being delivered into the befill the vfilled cu i *means 'for' re easing 'the fcup when sodelivrecess for disposing another column of cups in position fordropping another cup onto 3. A drinkodispensingmachine comprising acasing having acup delivery recess, a rotatable cage in which colunms ofnested cups are adapted to be carried, 'a liquid valve, a

vcup-support adjacent thereto, means for' discharging li uid'into thecup from the valve, means for elivering the cup 4from the support to therecess, andmean-sas the cup is being delivered into' the recess forimparting rotation to the cage and means as the' cup delivery means iswithdrawn from the recess for dropping another cup onto the cuplsupport. l Ti.

4. In a drink dispensing machine having a cup filling and deliverymeans, arotatable cage'in which nested columns'of cups are adapted tobecarried, said cage being concentrically mounted above a threaded head, aring having a thread coinciding with the thread of the head, the rimsofthe cups be.

in-gl adapted to be carried between the opposed threads, and meansaftera column of cups in the cage makes one complete turn of saidthreads permitting the lowermost cup' .cage in which nested columnsof-cups are adapted to be carried, said cage being concentricallymounted above a threaded head, a ring having xa thread coinciding withthe thread of the head, the rims of the cups being adapted to be carriedbetween the opthe .cage makes one complete turn of said threads vforpositively disconnecting the lowermost cup in the columnv from the oneposed threads, means as a column of cups in next above it, and means fordepositing said lowermost cup into position for filling.

6. In a, drink dispensing machine, comprising a casing having 'a cupldelivery recess, means forcarrying a column of nested cups, a cup`support, a liquid supply valve,A

having a swinging spout normally disposed adjacentthe su port, meansfordisposing the spout to deliver liquid to' a cupu on the support,andmeans for' subsequently elivering the'cu finto the cup deliveryrecess.

VIn a rinkdispensing machine compris ing a casing having aclip deliveryrecess, means for carrying a column of cups, a liquid suppl .-valve,meansfonholding a cup to om the valve, means for car ing intoth'ccupdelivery re ess,

'pising a casing having a cup delivery recess,

means for carrying a column o cups', a liquid supply valve, means forholding a cup to be lled from the valve, means for carry'- ing thei'illed-cnp into the cp delivery recess, 'means for releasing the cuplWhen so delivered and for returning the cup holding means into normalposition, meansV :for depositing an empty cup: qfrom the column therein,said cup delivery means comprising a pair of arms adapted to embrace thecup,

to spread apart te release the en after delivery and to close to normalho ding position to receive an empty cup.

9. In a drink disnensing machine comprising a casing having a cupdelivery recess, a door normally closing entrance to the recess from thecasing, means Within the casing for carrying a column of nested cups, acup support, a liquid supply valve, means or filling the cup from thevalve, means for opening vthe recess door and for delivering the lledcup thereshrongh, means for withdrawing the delivery means into ihecasing and for closing the doorV when so Withdrawn.

l0. ln a drink dispensing machine coming for carrying a, column ofnested cups, a cup support, a. liquid supply valve, means for fillingthe cup from the valve, means for openin the recess door and fordelivering the illed cup therethrough, means for Withdrawing thedelivery means into the casing and for closing the door when sowithdrawn, and means for locking the door,

l1. ln a drink dispensing machine comprising a casing and a deliveryrecess having a cup iilling and delivery means, means for carryin-aycoinmn of nested cups, a cup snpport, a' `quid supply valveadjacearlJ the snpport, means for opening the valve to fdl the cup, andmeans for closing said valve after a predetermined period, means fordelivering the :filled cup into the recess, and means for disposinganother cup in position to he filled aterrdelivery of the reviens one. Y

Dated at Vancouver, B, this 22nd day of June, 1925. Y

JAWS HOWARD MCLELLN.

